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An off-duty deputy with the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Department died Saturday night in a motorcycle crash in Chesterfield county.
Deputy Bernard Smith, 37, died on scene, according to Chesterfield Sheriff Sam Parker.
Smith had been with the department since 2005 and was named 2008 Deputy of the Year by the sheriff's department.
Before joining the sheriff's office, Smith worked at the county's detention center, and before that he was in the Marine Corps and was still active in the SC National Guard, according to Parker.
Sheriff Parker described Smith as a fun-loving guy and said he feels like he's lost his own son.
"Smitty was one of the best I had. He enjoyed life. He meant a lot to this department. ... he also meant a lot to me. He was a young man that lived life to the fullest. He enjoyed life everyday. He's one of those people that'll walk in the room and make you smile no matter what your day seemed to be," Parker said.
Parker added that Smith leaves behind a wife and two small children.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.
